Bloomfield College

Bloomfield College
Former name	German Theological School (1868–1913); Bloomfield College and Seminary (1913–1961);
Motto	Lux In Tenebris
Motto in English	Light in the Darkness
Type	Public college
Established	1868; 156 years ago
Parent institution	Montclair State University
Religious affiliation	Presbyterian Church (USA)
Academic affiliation	Space-grant
President	Marcheta P. Evans
Academic staff	181
Undergraduates	1,598
Location	Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States
Campus	Suburban, 12 acres (4.9 ha)
Colors	Red and yellow
Nickname	Bears
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II, CACC, NJAIAW
Mascot	Deacon the Bear
Website	bloomfield.edu

Bloomfield College of Montclair State University is a public college in Bloomfield, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is chartered by the State of New Jersey and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The school became part of Montclair State University starting in July 2023,^[2] before which it had been a private college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) through the Synod of the Northeast.^[3]^[4]

Bloomfield College is the only 4-year college in New Jersey recognized simultaneously as a Predominantly Black Institution, Hispanic Serving Institution, and Minority Serving Institution.^[5]

History

Bloomfield College was founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1868 as German Theological Seminary of Newark, New Jersey, to train German-speaking ministers. It moved to Bloomfield in 1872 and became four-year college in 1923.^{[citation needed]} In 1912 it absorbed the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing, founded in 1912 in nearby Newark.^[6]

The school's enrollment peaked in 2011. In October 2021, the school announced that it could close in 2022-2023 if it did not find financial help.^[7]

In March 2022, Montclair State University announced that it would financially support the college until a merger was agreed upon. The merger was officially announced on October 28, 2022, under which the college would become Bloomfield College of Montclair State University.^[8] The merger was completed in July 2023.

Academics

The college offers primarily undergraduate studies, but it has added master's programs in Accounting, Fine Arts, and Education. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Bloomfield College has approximately 1,598 students and about 65% of the students are commuters. Its gender composition is 63 percent female and 37 percent male.^[9] Its racial and ethnic composition is 48 percent black, 33 percent Hispanic, 9 percent white, and 2 percent Asian. Seventy-eight percent of the students were eligible for low-income Pell Grants. The academic staff consists of 60 full-time instructors and 120 part-time.^[10]

Bloomfield College has a graduation rate of 33 percent. Median salary after attending ranged from $18,548 (BA, Visual and Performing Arts) to $77,966 (BS, Nursing). Median student debt ranged from $26,000 to $33,912. Two years after student loan repayment began, 11 percent were making progress.^[11]

In its 2022 college rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Bloomfield College tied for 27th place for social mobility.^[12]

Athletics

Bloomfield College teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II. The Bears are a member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, and track and field; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball.

Westminster Arts Center

Bloomfield College is home to the Westminster Arts Center.^[13]

Notable alumni

C. Louis Bassano (born 1942), politician who served in both the New Jersey General Assembly and the New Jersey Senate.^[14]
Ralph R. Caputo (born 1940), politician who represents the 28th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly.^[15]
Rupert Crosse (1927–1973), Academy Award-nominated actor.^[16]
Sandra Bolden Cunningham (born 1950), politician who represents the 31st Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate.^[17]
Gage Daye (born 1989), former NBA G League basketball player.^[18]
Nacho Díez (born 1996), basketball player for Real Madrid Baloncesto.^[19]
Ted Koffman (born 1944; B.A. 1968), politician who served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008.^[20]
David Stergakos (born 1956), retired Greek basketball player who played professionally for Panathinaikos B.C.^[21]

References

^ Feitl, Steve. "Monmouth coach, BBQ Fest preview coming to Jersey Sports Rant", Asbury Park Press, August 25, 2014. Accessed June 6, 2023. "But Bloomfield College athletic director Sheila Wooten also visited and brought along the school's brand-new mascot Deacon the Bear for his first off-campus visit."
^ "History of Bloomfield College". Bloomfield College of Montclair State University. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^ Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, Montclair State University. Accessed August 14, 2023. "On July 1, 2023, Bloomfield College officially became part of Montclair State University."
^ Koruth, Mary Ann. "Bloomfield College just merged with Montclair State University. What it means for students", The Record, July 5, 2023. Accessed August 14, 2023. "A merger with Montclair State University has given a new lease on life to Bloomfield College, a small, financially-strapped private college serving mostly low-income Black and Hispanic students in Essex County, saving it from shutting its doors. Bloomfield College, among the state's oldest private minority-serving institutions enrolling about 1,200 students, officially merged with Montclair State, a public research university serving 21,800 students, on July 1."
^ "History of Bloomfield College". Bloomfield College of Montclair State University. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
^ Cook, Alicia. "Fran McLaughlin to be Honored at Bloomfield College's Upcoming Nursing Reception" Bloomfield College; April 13, 2018
^ Whitford, Emma. "Without Financial Help, Bloomfield College Risks Closure". www.insidehighered.com. Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ "Montclair State and Bloomfield Announce Merger". Retrieved 28 October 2022.
^ "Bloomfield College". www.usnews.com. US New. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ "Bloomfield College". nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator. US Department of Education. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ "Bloomfield College". collegescorecard.ed.gov. US Department of Education. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ "Bloomfield College's 2022 Rankings". www.usnews.com. US News. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ The Westminster Arts Center
^ C. Louis Bassano, New Jersey Legislature, archived by the Internet Archive on February 25, 1998. Accessed May 25, 2010.
^ Assemblyman Ralph R. Caputo (D), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed July 25, 2018. "Education: B.A. Bloomfield College (History/Education)"
^ "Television's Rupert Crosse Dies of Cancer In Jamaica". Jet. 44 (1). Johnson Publishing Company: 59. 1973-03-29. ISSN 0021-5996.
^ About Sandra Archived 2018-08-07 at the Wayback Machine, Senator Sandra Cunningham. Accessed July 25, 2018. "Sandra Bolden Cunningham is a New Jersey native, who grew up in Newark and now lives in Jersey City. She is a graduate of Bloomfield College where she earned a B.A. Degree."
^ Cook, Alicia. "Basketball’S Leading Scorer Establishes Scholarship At Bloomfield College", Bloomfield College. Accessed July 23, 2018. "Star athlete and Bloomfield College alumnus, Gage Daye, has established a scholarship at his alma mater designed for students hailing from Newark, New Jersey."
^ Ignacio Diez, Bloomfield College. Accessed July 24, 2018.
^ Ted Koffman's Biography, Vote Smart. Accessed July 24, 2018. "Birth Place: Morristown, NJ... Education... BA, Bloomfield College, 1968"
^ Staff. "Greeks Show Basketball Skill", The New York Times, November 18, 1987. Accessed July 25, 2018. "In the mid-1970s, Stergakos played four years with Bloomfield College in New Jersey, and in 1978, became a fourth-round draft pick of the Boston Celtics."